How to Use Secret Netflix Codes to Unlock Hidden Movie Categories

Netflix may be stocked with fewer movies than it was a few years ago, but there's still more than enough content to feel completely paralyzed by its ever-changing scroll of choices each time you sit down to watch something. The quickest route to finding the best things to watch, of course, is to follow Thrillist Entertainment, which dedicates itself to telling you the best shows and movies you can stream at a given moment, like the best documentaries and the newest stuff each month.

But sometimes you actually feel like browsing Netflix -- and if you want to browse better, you should know about Netflix's secret genre codes, which will take you far beyond the broad and not-so-helpful categories like Comedy or Action. Especially if you're in the mood for a super-specific TV show or movie, these hidden genre codes can be a huge help.

How to find (and use) the codes

Netflix's hidden master list of content categories is huge -- it's organized into literally thousands of subgenres, and they get as specific as you could imagine, from Deep Sea Horror Movies, to Campy Crime Comedies, to Suspenseful Movies starring Michael Caine. To start exploring, hit either What's On Netflix or NetflixCodes.me to find lists of all the micro-genres and their corresponding codes. Once you've found a genre you're interested in, simply tack on the applicable numerical code to the end of this URL, and you'll see all the shows and movies currently available in that category: http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/###

For example, if I wanted to watch a weird, funny movie, I'd plug in the code for Critically-acclaimed Quirky Comedies (1577), which gives me a lineup of available titles that fit the bill, including Frank, Amelie, Moonrise Kingdom, and Dope. Or, say I wanted to learn something while also crying. I'd drop in the code for Emotional Documentaries (1271), which would retrieve dozens of options, including Blackfish, Holy Hell, and How to Survive a Plague.

Of course, since the categories get incredibly granular, many subgenres may come up with only a few selections -- or they could even be completely empty -- depending on the current Netflix selection, but here are some unique categories with a robust selection available as of this writing.

Tide's New Packaging Looks Just Like Boxed Wine, Because Tide Pods Weren't Enough

For vendors of something as deeply unsexy as hypo-allergenic laundry detergent, Tide seems to have no trouble drawing attention to itself: The brand's latest packaging is a perfect replica of a box of Franzia, but filled with liquid soap. It's like Sunset Blush wearing a Halloween costume. And also, it might kill you, so don't drink it.

After hundreds of calls to poison control over consumption of the candy-likened Tide Pods roughly a year ago, it's honestly astounding that the company didn't see this one coming. It feels like a generous holiday gift to the meme artist community at large. Someone please warn every college student in America: Slap the bag isn't nearly as fun when you're swallowing ammonium.

The new look was part of an attempt to create more sustainable packaging: it uses 60% less plastic than your standard container, and it's cheaper to ship in box-form, according to a report by CNN. Tide producers, Procter & Gamble, did not take into consideration, however, the fact that their product now resembles a fire new Franzia X Tide Soap collab.

As is expected with any hot detergent-related scandal, there was much to be said on Twitter.

Everyone Is Losing Their Damn Minds Over the New, Good 'Detective Pikachu' Trailer

Picture this: Pikachu, the beloved furry face of the Pokémon franchise, is a detective. He wears a tiny detective hat. He solves crimes with the help of a human companion. He's voiced by Ryan Reynolds.

You may think one of these things doesn't quite fit with the others, but that's just because you haven't watched the Detective Pikachu trailer yet. If you're one of those people, please do so now, and then appreciate with us how good this movie looks and how Pikachu has huge glossy eyes and lil' forehead wrinkles.